A 20-year-old college basketball player has been identified as the victim of a fatal rollover car crash along a notoriously dangerous stretch of California highway.
Jhenéy Wallace, a Victorville native also known as Jhenéy Harris, was pronounced dead at the scene on Wednesday after a vehicle containing her and two other adults rolled down an 80-foot embankment on the I-15 freeway in the Cajon Pass.
The full details of the crash have not been released, but Victor Valley News Group has reported that Wallace is believed to have been one of the passengers and not the driver of the Hyundai Veloster.
The driver and another passenger were rushed to a nearby hospital with critical injuries, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Department. One individual was airlifted to the hospital while the other was taken up the embankment on a sled before being moved into a waiting ambulance.
The other occupants of the car were Wallace’s friend and the friend’s mother, KTLA has reported.
‘She was a great daughter,’ Tamara Wallace, Jhenéy’s mother, told KTLA. ‘She was my best friend, my first-born. Always kept me smiling and encouraged me to do things. She was the best sister to her little sister and brother, very bubbly, always happy and loving.’
Jhenéy Wallace, a Victorville native also known as Jhenéy Harris, was pronounced dead at the scene on Wednesday after a vehicle containing her and two other adults crashed
One of the two survivors is seen being airlifted to a nearby hospital with critical injuries
Rescue crews are seen taking one survivor to a waiting ambulance after Wednesday’s crash
‘The coordinated efforts of firefighters, paramedics, and our cooperating agencies insured rapid access to the patients despite the hazardous conditions and triple digit temperatures,’ read a San Bernardino County Fire Department press release.
‘Incidents of this nature highlight the specialized training and teamwork required to operate safely in a complex rescue environment.’
Wallace was coming off her freshman year at Victorville Community College and had dreams of playing in the WNBA, KTLA reported. Although she started just one game in 2025-26, she did make 24 appearances and figured to have a larger role in 2026-27.
‘She wanted so much out of life,’ Tamara said. ‘I thank everyone who has reached out to me and for all their prayers and support. I just want to keep my daughter’s name alive.’
The freshman forward was coming off her freshman year at Victorville Community College
In an aerial view, motorists traverse I-15 through the Cajon Pass on June 23
The women’s basketball team at Victorville Community College reacted to the news on Instagram.
‘Our Victor Valley College Women’s Basketball family continues to mourn the loss of one of our own, Jhenéy Wallace,’ read the post. ‘Jhenéy was more than a teammate — she was a friend, a daughter, a sister, cousin, granddaughter, and a cherished member of our Ram family whose impact will never be forgotten.’
A GoFundMe has been launched to help with funeral expenses and other costs. The drive has already reached its $15,000 goal and a service celebrating Wallace’s life had been scheduled for Sunday evening.
‘Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love, support, and generosity as we celebrate Jhenéy’s life and keep her memory alive,’ Wallace’s mother told KTLA.
The 15 Freeway through Cajon Pass is considered dangerous due to its steep grades and blind corners with little room for error.
In 2022, officials reported 48 traffic deaths on the roadway, which broke down to an astonishing 20.4 deadly crashes per 100,000 people, according to county officials.
